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The Sharks rolled down from the hills of the Southern Alps into the coastal town of Dunedin on Thursday with their coaching staff warning them all the way on the three-hour bus trip of the hungry Highlanders team lying in wait, determined to add a second South African scalp to that of the Lions before they head off on tour to South Africa on Saturday.
Mike Greenaway reports for IOL.

The Sharks have had a week in New Zealand’s adventure capital in which they worked hard at the Wakatipu Rugby Club and played hard in the mountains, but now that they are in the shadow of the infamous House of Pain, there is a realisation that this tour could become an Everest if the Highlanders put them to the sword, or should that be claymore.

It really ought not to happen, given that the Sharks are unbeaten and this young Otago team has lost six out of seven games, provided the Sharks maintain their focus, because 12 years of Super rugby have shown that the bottom teams can beat those at the top when hunger on one side meets complacency on the other.

“There is no danger of us underestimating the Highlanders,” said coach Dick Muir.

“They are a fiery bunch and have been unlucky to lose most of their games. They have been a bit like the Cheetahs in the way they have lost close games at the very death.”

The Sharks have not been scoring tries and Muir believes the Sharks have found some remedies for their misfiring backline.

“For one thing, we will be looking to scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar to be more assertive and to be a strong link between forwards and backs, while Bradley Barritt calls the plays from inside centre,” Muir said.

“In general we need the backline to control the game more, to make more play.

“Against the Hurricanes last week, there was a (lack of) communication issue, with occasions when the backs wanted the ball, but the forwards kept it, and times when the backs did not want the ball, but were given it.

Muir and the Sharks arrived in Dunedin to find that the Highlanders team does not contain two of its best players, local heroes Jimmy Cowan and Jamie Mackintosh.

The scrumhalf and prop respectively have been benched and are among five changes coach Glen Moore has made to the team that beat the Lions 29-20.

Cowan is replaced by Toby Morland and Chris King comes in at loosehead prop.

Powerful Niva Ta’auso is back from injury at outside centre in place of Brett Mather while blindside flanker Adam Thompson gets a start in place of massive Hoani MacDonald, who moves to lock and Hayden Triggs to the reserve bench.

“They are a fiery bunch and have been unlucky to lose most of their games. They have been a bit like the Cheetahs in the way they have lost close games at the very death.”

Yup, and the sharks have won some very close games at the very death.

Comment 6, posted at 10.04.08 13:59:44 by Waz

I have Sharks by 20 here. I hope to glod they don’t make me regret that.

Comment 7, posted at 10.04.08 14:07:28 by robd'ylan

We’ve also drawn so very close games at the death

Comment 8, posted at 10.04.08 14:09:58 by blackshark (YNWA)

7- I take it glod is the greek god of rugby…

Comment 9, posted at 10.04.08 14:10:47 by blackshark (YNWA)

Dwarfish god of rugby, but close enough

Comment 10, posted at 10.04.08 14:27:04 by robd'ylan

every week we hope that this week it will all click and fall into place so here is once more a wish that the Sharks play and reach their full poyential, what does the weather forcast look like let me guess RAIN RAIN and just after half time more RAIN

Comment 11, posted at 10.04.08 15:09:49 by barend

Correct. 8-12 C, partly cloudy with rain forecast.

Comment 12, posted at 10.04.08 15:19:53 by robd'ylan

Barend – yip rain….

Comment 13, posted at 10.04.08 15:20:02 by I'ce

eish man. This is just fucking ridiculous. Pardon my French, but why do we ALWAYS HAVE TO PLAY IN THE RAIN?

Comment 14, posted at 10.04.08 15:35:21 by robd'ylan

those two injuries must be very welcome, mackintosh and cowan had huge games last weekend, probably the pick of the highlanders players.

Comment 15, posted at 10.04.08 16:45:06 by cab

Comment 14 of 15, posted at 10.04.08 15:35:21 by robd’ylan

‘Coz we’re the SHARKS and suppose to swim…

Comment 16, posted at 11.04.08 07:41:03 by Charlie

[email protected] Charlie…that’s a funny way of looking at it…too bad “Water Rugby” is not as much fun to watch as “Girls Water Polo”…